MatchEverton v Liverpool: Merseyside derby team news
Jürgen Klopp spoke of the importance of ‘fresh legs’ when he comes to select his XI to face Everton in Wednesday’s Merseyside derby.
The Liverpool manager made five changes to the starting line-up for last Sunday’s 3-1 victory over Fulham, and used all of his five substitutions during the second half at Craven Cottage.
With the quick turnaround, and another Premier League away trip to follow the clash at Goodison Park – the Reds travel to West Ham United on Saturday lunchtime – Klopp intends to utilise the depth of his squad again.
“We had to do it [make changes against Fulham] and we will see what we can do now for this game,” said Klopp at Tuesday’s pre-match press conference.
“Nothing definite yet. It’s pretty early after the game. This afternoon is the only real session we have and then we will make decisions. We will line players up and hopefully we will have again a lot of fresh legs on the pitch.”
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Watch on YouTubeLiverpool will, however, be without Diogo Jota for their 244th meeting with the Blues, after the No.20 picked up an issue last weekend that rules him out for a fortnight.
“Diogo scored the goal, felt a little bit and now we found out it’s a little bit more,” said Klopp. “So he will be out for two weeks.”
He added: “It’s a small one but we are late in the season, so obviously now it’s not a great moment for each injury pretty much.
“It’s not a big one. When I say two weeks, actually really it’s pretty much nothing but enough to not be available.”
The Reds have no other new injury concerns ahead of the journey across Stanley Park, though Conor Bradley is sidelined and Thiago Alcantara, Ben Doak and Joel Matip remain out.
Stefan Bajcetic featured for the opening 45 minutes when the U21s were beaten 2-1 away at Sunderland on Monday night.
For Everton, meanwhile, Dominic Calvert-Lewin could be fit to start Wednesday’s 8pm BST kick-off, despite being substituted during their win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday with a knock.
Speaking on Tuesday, Blues boss Sean Dyche confirmed fellow striker Beto will miss the Reds’ visit, though, having suffered a head injury late in the game against Forest.
“[We are] hopeful [Calvert-Lewin] will be back for tomorrow,” Dyche said. “We will wait and see on that one.
“[Beto] definitely won’t feature for these next couple of games but he will be back after that – following the protocols, and rightly so. Good news so far. He has had all the checks needed and he’s fine.”
Everton club captain Seamus Coleman will also miss the derby, due to a groin injury, while Nathan Patterson (hamstring), Lewis Dobbin (ankle) and Dele Alli (groin) remain unavailable.
Last match
Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest (April 21): Pickford, Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gueye, Harrison, Doucoure, Gomes, McNeil, Calvert-Lewin.
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool (April 21): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Quansah, Robertson, Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch, Jota, Diaz, Gakpo.